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The Historic Clash Renewed: Al Ahly vs. Zamalek in the African Super Cup
The historic rivalry between Egyptian football giants Al Ahly and Zamalek is reigniting, but this time far from Cairo, as they face off on Friday at the "Kingdom Arena" in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, in the African Super Cup match. The two teams come into this "Cairo Derby," as it is known in their home country, under varying circumstances.
Al Ahly has recently claimed the CAF Champions League title for a record 12th time in May, while Zamalek won the CAF Confederation Cup just days before that, marking their second victory in the tournament. This sets up a meeting between the two powerhouses in the Super Cup for only the second time in 30 years, since the 1994 edition, where Zamalek triumphed with a solitary goal from Ayman Mansour.
Al Ahly hopes to secure their ninth Super Cup title, building on their record after previously winning in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2021, and 2022. However, they have lost the title three times, with the latest defeat occurring last year against Algeria’s USM Alger.
On the other hand, Zamalek is seeking their fifth Super Cup title following their previous wins in 1994, 1997, 2003, and 2020, having only lost once in 2001.
This match marks the 11th encounter between Al Ahly and Zamalek in African competitions. In addition to the 1994 Super Cup, the two teams have clashed nine times in the Champions League, where Al Ahly has emerged victorious six times, with Zamalek winning just once (the 1994 Super Cup) and three matches ending in draws. Notable among these encounters is the 2020 CAF Champions League final, which saw Al Ahly win 2-1 in Cairo, dubbed the "Final of the Century."
This will be the second match held in Riyadh between the two rivals, following the Egyptian Cup final in April, which ended in a 2-0 victory for Al Ahly.
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